The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-09-27
TIE THiaTLE,

est or meaning than that OF Bruce and the
spider. The gossamer thread that the In.
sect spun alter many triala has inter.
woven itself with the progressive national
lie Of Scotland from century to century,
"Persevetando' Is one OF the mottooa she
wears; and II Ia In the spirit OF this slogan
that she has sent tho Thistle acroBa the
seas to try to wleet the victory that line
Of discomtltted predecessors has failed to
win. The news that Scotland was In the
tisld created buzz OF excitement when
first announced-and the Royal Clyde
Yacht Club were timely In the challenge
-aud the interest 1t aroused has steadily
Increased, fostered perhaps by the ttnge
OF mystery that colored the building and
tho launching OF the Thistle. Never In
the whole history Of tho cup has there
been yacht 80 much talked OF. Never
has there been 40 much reason for talk.
The Thistle. Was conceived In secret,
shaped In secret and launched in nshroud.
She has been tho cause OF more fanciiul
sketching and moro coniectural writing
than the flying dutchmsn's ghostly craft,
and Captain Barr has bsen as silent as
Captain Vanderdeclsn, George D. Wat
son has level head. When the Scottish
syndicate cboae him to design yacht, he
laii down Tor himself and for them Ger.
tain courao OF action. That has been
maintained through fair weather and foul,
despite rayjlllng, criticism and abuse.
There 10 no. International copyright in
yachts; and be wished TO enjoy a moaopo.
ly Of his own originality. He haa sue
ceeded. There is nothing else aaost that
exactly resesenbles the Thistle. But Mr..
Watson did not curtain his ideal from pos.
sible American imitators only. He wished
to screen 1t from the whole world; aud
sven more particularly from British ri.
walls. Hence 1t is somewhat unfair to him
to impute to him strategic secretiyencss
directed only against the transatlantic
enemy" 1t must be remembered that
his competitors at home were kept as
much in the dsrk as ha competitors abroad.
Her racing career in British waters was
almoSt = succession Of victories. Even On
the few occasions when abe lost, her fall
ure wss to be attributed to causes outside
Of the boats own capabilities, which she
fairly proved to be invincible by any cut.
ter of her class. Comparing her perform
ances with those OF the 1rsx, she showed
hersolt to be on an average about 10 min
utes the ssstee in strong winds and from
Is to Is minutes the gpsedierin light air.
In all the forecasts that have been made
OF her contest with tho Volunteer it has
been taken for granted that in zephyr
breezs she will havea much better chance
With the Yankee wonder than in gale.
Mr.. Burgess end other experts are, how.
ever, disircllned 70 sceept this; and Mr..
Ball and MI. Watson profess preference
ioy Q "blow," If only to demonstrate that
the prevailing inpseesion is a wrong one.
CROSSING THE ATLANTIC.
After being dry.docksd and thoroughly
over.hsuled, the Thiatls turned "West-
ward Hol" on Monday, July %, amid the
good wishes OF whole nation. The was
awaitaa here with the greatest impstience;
and Gs her pAsSsge Was somewhat delayed
BY head winds aud heavy seas, sensation.
mon2ers were not slow In limiting at tho
worst; but the amused incredulity with
which the peoplc Of Scotland who knew
her qualities received Any eIggeation Of
misfortune was sustained by her safe ar.
riysi on the morning OF Tuesday, August
lS, when she vas toHed up tho buy and
cast anchor of Tompkinsylils, While it
WAS scarcely daylight. -
SIZE OF THE yEs,EIs.
The Volunteer, which proposes to Dc it:
level best to prevent the Thistle from car
rying to Europe America's cup, is a
smaller yacht than her rival, her dimen-
sions being ss follows: Length over all,
106,23 feet; length on water line, s5.Ss
feet; breadth o! beam, 231G feet; depth
OF held, 1890 feet; draft, 1904 feet; length
for time allowance, S9.35 feet.
The Thistle mea5uyss as followg:
Length over all, Jos feet; length Of water
line, 's6 40 feet; breadth Of bslm, 2O.3
feet; depth ci hold, l4l0 feet; draft, Il
feet; length for time ALLOWANCE, $3.50
feet. - - Z y Sss.stF t5sif;ls